The Lapland summer and its nightless nights create conditions for fly fishing that are hard to find anywhere else in the world. When the sun never sets, you have a full 24 hours of fishing time in a day. The area around Levi is a strategically brilliant base for a fly angler, because within a short drive you'll find everything from the easily accessible grayling of a large river to the little streams of untouched wilderness. So stay close to the services and make short trips out to different rivers during your holiday.

If you're planning a fishing trip to Lapland, make sure to add at least these three river destinations to your list. Each one calls for a different approach and offers a completely different fishing experience.

The Ounasjoki is the closest of our favourite waters – fly fishing just minutes from Levi.

1. Ounasjoki – Levi's own "home river"

The Ounasjoki is the easiest and most convenient choice when you want to head out for an evening's fishing without spending hours behind the wheel. The river flows right alongside Levi and the village of Kittilä, and you can easily drive close to the best fishing spots.

The wide Ounasjoki gives a fly angler plenty of room – and a good challenge.

River character and fishing

The Ounasjoki is a wide and beautiful northern river. In early summer the current runs hard, but by early July the water has dropped and revealed the rocky rapids. That's when the river turns into a fly angler's paradise: in many places you can wade out a really long way, safely and securely.

By July the water has dropped enough to wade far out across the rocky rapids.

• Main catch: Grayling and whitefish. The best grayling rise at the heads of the rapids and in the glides.
• How to fish: On warm July evenings and nights the water can practically boil with surface-feeding whitefish and grayling. Pack your fly box with caddis imitations in various sizes and small black dry flies.

Thanks to the nightless night, the fishing carries on long after a normal bedtime.

Pro tip: On the Ounasjoki it really pays to make the most of the nightless night. During the heat of the day the fish often laze about on the bottom, but when the sun dips to its lowest between 11 pm and 3 am, the big grayling move into shallower water to hunt hatching insects. Late in the evening you'll clearly notice when the fish start feeding. The catch isn't often giant in size, but there's plenty of it and the fish are extremely eager to take a dry fly. A light #3 or #4 rod makes fishing here enormous fun.

Between 11 pm and 3 am the big grayling move into the shallows to feed – prime time on the river.

2. Kapsajoki – a wild, peaceful destination less than an hour from Levi

If you're after peace, seclusion and a slightly smaller river, then point the bow towards the Kapsajoki. This smaller river destination lies a short drive northeast of Levi and offers the perfect contrast to the vastness of the Ounasjoki.

River character and fishing

The Kapsajoki winds through the heart of typical Lappish forest and mire scenery. The river is narrow, and its banks are lined in many places with dense willow thickets and trees. This makes casting technical – there isn't always room for a back cast, so you'll want to have roll casts in your repertoire. The Kapsajoki is also easy to wade, which then opens up room for a back cast.

The Kapsajoki is narrow and crystal clear – a technical, peaceful contrast to the Ounasjoki.

• Main catch: Grayling. The river also has a small native brown trout population, which is protected.
• Atmosphere: Wild and remote. Here you can often fish in complete peace, without another soul in sight.

The grayling of the Kapsajoki aren't giants either, but there are plenty of them and they're extremely eager to take a dry fly. A light #3 or #4 rod is the right tool here too.

3. Könkämäeno – a trophy water of the Arm and the realm of the big grayling

This destination calls for a bit of an adventurous spirit and a longer drive, but it's worth every kilometre. The Könkämäeno serves as a border river between Sweden and Finland in the "Arm" of Finland (Käsivarsi). As you drive from Levi towards Kilpisjärvi (Highway 21), the river runs tightly alongside the road for hundreds of kilometres.

River character and fishing

The Könkämäeno is rugged, powerful and rocky. Unlike the Ounasjoki, wading here is more demanding, but not impossible. The riverbed in many places is made up of large, often slippery boulders, and the current can be strong. A wading staff, good-soled boots and studs are absolutely essential safety gear here.

The Könkämäeno is rugged, powerful and rocky – wading here demands care.

• Main catch: Large, record-class grayling, even over 50 centimetres. Big migratory trout and whitefish are also possible.
• Our favourite spot: The best taking spots are found about a 30–45 minute drive south of Kilpisjärvi.

The reward: a fine Könkämäeno grayling, here on this trophy water reaching well over 50 cm.

Along the way there are plenty of handy "bush parkings" where you can pull up a motorhome or camper van close to the river. On the Könkämäeno, drifting your fly takes precision: the fish often lie in wait behind big rocks, in sheltered "pockets" and along current seams. Heavy nymphs (such as tungsten beadhead Red Tags) and large streamers work brilliantly here when you want to get down deep to a big fish.

Few places in the world offer grayling fly fishing of this calibre.

An angler's checklist for Lapland: Permits and etiquette

Lapland's nature is beautiful, but fragile. To keep the fish stocks healthy and the experience pleasant for everyone, take care of the following:

• State fisheries management fee — Mandatory for everyone aged 18–69 (if you're fishing with anything other than a simple hook-and-worm or ice-fishing rod in still water). Get your permit here.
• Area-specific permits — For the Ounasjoki, Kapsajoki and Könkämäeno rivers you'll need their own permits. You can usually buy daily, weekly or whole season permits. Always check the boundaries of fishing and buy your permits on the Eräluvat service.
• Minimum sizes and rules — Depending on the latitude, the minimum size for grayling is usually 30–35 cm. Only take as much fish as you intend to eat the same day. We ourselves fish mainly on a catch-and-release basis.
• Responsibility — Don't leave any litter in nature. Line, cans and food wrappers are always carried back to civilisation. Respect other anglers' peace too – don't walk straight into another angler's casting spot. Check the Anglers' guider from here

The Levi summer is full of possibilities for an angler. During the day you can enjoy Levi's services (or perhaps a round of fell golf), and as the evening cools you can head down to the river to wait for the grayling of a lifetime.

The rivers are shared by everyone enjoying the Lapland summer – now and then a canoe drifts past your spot.

Looking for somewhere to stay on your summer fishing trip? Nulkka Chalet is a peaceful, cosy base right in the middle of Levi's best fishing waters.